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The New Normal

6/1/2014

6 Comments

 
Picture
This guy's smiling, let me tell you. I thought I smiled a lot. He walks up at Pine southbound, first stop on the 7, not rushed, no stress, just happy: a white man in his craggy early sixties, deep lines around his eyes and a balding pate. His pants are scuffed and too short, exposing his ankles, making his shoes look oversized and Chaplinesque. In fact, his whole outfit reminded me of Charlie Chaplin- destitute, dark layered rags with holes, frayed fabric, sun-bleached blacks and grays. In place of the famous mustache was a scraggly, scruffy thin beard, words which described his form as a whole. Almond-shaped blue eyes radiated from his pale skin, entrenched in a seemingly permanent smile. 

He greeted me with, "Good afternoon. How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing just fine, and yourself?"
"Terrific," he beamed, positively glowing and rendering his slovenly appearance totally irrelevant.

"That's a nice-looking chess set." I'm referring to the large box under his arm. He and a man next to him begin discussing chess. This set is worth $147, apparently, and the bishops have capes on them.

As I turn from 2nd Extension onto Jackson, he says for no discernible reason, "thank you, bus driver."
"You're quite welcome!"
"Thank you."
"Oh, my pleasure."

Periodically he'll thank the people around him, just for being nice. Or he'll wish them a good day. He offers to help a woman with her bags, but she declines. He scoots out the way for a walker. Asks the people across from him how they're doing, all in a gentle voice and kind demeanor. I watch him in the mirror with curiosity and gladness, thinking, I wish everybody was like this.

"It's a game of logic," he's saying to his fellow passenger, a thin middle-aged man with a hat. 
"Logic and strategy," I interject.
"Logic and strategy."
"That takes a brain," replies Thin Hat Man. "I don't have one of those."
"Oh, don't say that!" I exclaim.
"Hey. That's what happens when you fall 6,000 feet from a helicopter."

And I thought I had things to complain about. Not true, I remind myself. Not true at all. That Mr. Hat Man had the grace and patience to nod and make eye contact when he got on, let alone wish me a good day as he left, stupefied me. That's what I call a modern miracle.

Chess Man thanks me profusely again as he steps out at Rainier and 39th. On the sidewalk is a stroller being pushed by a mother in her thirties, well-dressed and put together. "Good afternoon," he says to her in the same kind voice. She avoids his gaze, hurriedly walking past. Probably thought he was crazy. Is he crazy? No, everyone else is. I hope one day his attitude becomes the new normal. I spend the rest of the shift greeting people as he did.

6 Comments
Julia
6/2/2014 02:16:31 pm

The only thing better than reading about these kind of interactions and your beautiful portrayal of them is watching my kids have similar interactions. Enjoying interacting with the people around them- i think that's something to teach our kids :)

Reply
Nathan
6/3/2014 06:59:00 am

Julia,

Thank you! Always such a joy to hear your comments. Seeing things like this on the road rejuvenates me so much, and even moreso with young folks. To see children interacting, yes! Such things make me excited for the future.

Reply
Julia
6/3/2014 12:35:30 pm

Funny, i just dug out an old 80s kids tape- yes, tape- with this song on it- by Red Grammar, called Say hi!

"Did you know some folks are shy
When it comes to sayin' hi!
They feel funny deep inside and they turn their heads away
They think no one wants to meet ‘em
And nobody really needs ‘em
So when you go up to greet ‘em they turn their heads away

Chorus
You've gotta stand up tall
Gather up a smile
Take a big breath
Look ‘em in the eye and say "Hi!"

So take it from your dog or cat
They've got their hellos down pat
Meow, meow, meow, woof, woof, yap, yap, they don't turn their heads away
So when someone is sayin' hi!
And its your turn for feeling shy
You might want to run and hide but don't turn your head away

Chorus

So when you're walking down the street
Say hello to those you meet
Don't be looking down at your feet
You've got to look ‘em in the eye and say "Hi!""

Nathan
6/4/2014 02:20:42 am

"take it from your dog or cat-" This is all so perfect! What a gem of a find! You never know what might be lurking on those cassettes! I'll be thinking of these lyrics when I'm on the road today. Thank you!

Reply
Julia
6/4/2014 02:35:23 am

I promise my daughter and i will belt this out for ya if we're ever on your bus!

Reply
Nathan
6/4/2014 03:36:39 am

Oh that would be super fun! I feel the day is inevitable when you'll end up on my bus!




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